Learner (driver) distinguishing plate



Nov. l27, 1951 P. wlllTwELL 2,576,374

LERNER (DRIVER) DISTINGUISHING PLATE Filed ot. e, 1949 Patented Nov. 27, 1951 TENT OFFICE f LEARNER (DRIVER) DISTINGUISHING PLATE Percy Whitwell, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application October 8, 1949, Serial No. 120,257

1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to a learner (driver) distinguishing plate for use with motor vehicles.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a learner (driver) distinguishing plate which can be connected to the regular license plate and which has a cover thereupon so that the letter L can be displayed when the learner is driving the car and whereby other drivers will be warned of this situation and will help to prevent accidents.

Other objects of the present invention are to provide a learner (driver) distinguishing plate adapted for connection to the regular license plate which is of simple construction, inexpensive to manufacture, has a minimum number of parts, of pleasing appearance, convenient to use and elcient in operation.

For other objects and for a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the following detailed description taken'in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the learner (driver) distinguishing plate for vehicles embodying the features of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of the plate.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the plate with a cover or flap therefor.

Figs. 5 and 6 are respectively perspective views of a modified form of the invention, the view in Fig. 5 showing the cover removed from the front of the plate while in Fig. 6 the cover is shown over the plate as when the same is not to be used.

Referring now particularly to Figs. 1 to 4, I0 represents a plate having lettering thereon as, for example, a large letter L to identfy the learner who will be driving the vehicle II. This plate has a bottom slot I2 by which it can be connected to the regular license plate I3 by means of a fastening bolt and nut arrangement, as indicated at I4. This plate is preferably made of metal and of the saine jype of construction as the license plate i3 is made. The plate is ribbed about its periphery, as indicated at I5, whereby to give strength and rigidity to the plate. When this plate is displayed, the other drivers will know that a learner is operating the vehicle ahead of them. This plate of course, can also be placed on the front of the car so as to warn oncoming vehicles of the vehicle being driven by a learner.

In Fig. 4, there is shown a leather cover I6 which is connected to the bottom edge of the plate by a strip I'I folded at its ends about the plate and extending across the back of the plate. This strip I'I is held in place by a fastening screw I8 which extends through a slot I2 of the plate. Snap fastening elements I9 and 20 are provided on the front of the leather piece and the leather piece extends upwardly and is similarly retained on the back of the plate by a strip 22 having its ends folded over the edges of the plate and by a fastening screw 23. A portion of the leather has complementary snap fastener elements 24 adapted to engage the snap fastener elements I9 and 2B as the leather is folded down over the iront of the plate Ill. When the plate is not to be used, the leather flap is held in place by the snap fasteners. When the plate is to be used, the flap is folded back and in the position as shown in Fig. 4.

In Figs. 5 and 6, the plate is shown secured to the license plate i3 in the same manner as shown in Fig. 1, but this particular plate is especially formed with a hinge projection 26 to which a cover plate 21 is attached by means of a hinge pin 28. With the cover 2l in the position shown in Fig. 6, the markings upon the plate I0 will not be displayed, but upon the cover being lifted to the position shown in Fig. 5 and folded back, the lettering will be displayed.

While various changes may be made in the detail construction, it shall be understood that such changes shall be Within the spirit and scope of the present invention as dened by the appended claim.

Having thus set forth and disclosed the nature of my invention, what is claimed is:

A learner distinguishing plate adapted to be connected to the license plate of a vehicle and a piece of flexible material folded over the bottom edge of the plate, a strip extending across the flexible material and about the ends of the plate to hold the same secure on the bottom of the plate, said flexible material extending upwardly over the back of the plate, a strap connected to the upper end of the plate and across the flexible material and around the edges of the plate Whereby to hold the flexible material at the top of the plate, said flexible material adapted to be bent downwardly over the front of the plate, said flexible material at its bottom edge foldable upwardly in the front of the plate and having snap fasteners thereupon, other snap fastener elements being connected to the opposite end of the flexible material to hold that part which extends out over the front of the plate against displacement from the front of the plate.

PERCY WHITWELL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the ille of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 283,073 Carpon Aug. 14, 1883 1,257,989 Ewin Mar. 5, 1918 1,645,229 Churmisi Oct. 11, 1927 1,946,946 Phinney Feb. 13, 1934 

